May 11, 2008
Mother's Day 2008 has arrived. This will be the first Mother's Day following my mother's
passing, but the thoughts of her will forever be remembered.
The April Texas State Comptroller's sales tax rebate checks have been disbursed, and the
Kosse business activity continues at a scorching pace. Quoting the Mexia Daily News, "The
City of Kosse April check totals $4,089.28, representing a whopping 96.86 percent increase
over the $2,077.15 check last April. Kosse almost doubled in an increase for year-to-date -
$18,177.82, compared with a year ago when the checks totaled $9,437.42." Click for article.
The Kosse/Bremond area's housing values are in total contrast to the deflating national
pricing trends. It is unbelievable to see small frame houses in Bremond being listed in the
$80,000 range that would have sold a couple of years ago for $35-40,000. While no one can
be faulted for trying to cash in while the gettings good, it is easily predictable we're in for a
bust cycle in three or four years once the power plant and coal mine are completed and the
temporary workers depart. Plan accordingly.
May 8, 2008
Even though most of my contact is with Kosse, we actually live in Bremond. With that said, a
tornado hit outside of Bremond last night at 8:01 p.m. Click for article. Fortunately our
neighborhood was not hit, as the tornado touched down a couple miles east on the road going
towards Franklin. We had about ten minutes notice and I will have to say it was a strange and
apprehensive feeling hearing the town's air sirens wailing and the newscasters saying to take
immediate cover from the deadly possibilities.
May 7, 2008
The Kosse Roping Grounds will be the site for another Ranch Rodeo on May 24 at 7:00 p.m..
These have proven to be exciting events which are well attended and offer great
entertainment. All are invited to enjoy some Kosse Cowboying. Contact Wes or Honey Suttle
for additional information.
On yesterday's Neil Cavuto show on Fox News, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul
(who is still in the race despite John McCain now having more than enough delegates for the
nomination) said he would not be supporting McCain in the November election. Click for video.
While this may seem insignificant on the surface, if Congressman Paul can convince enough
of his very ardent supporters to vote for someone other than McCain, it could have a decisive
impact on a number of close states. Remember Ralph Nader's third party effect on the 2000
election? He siphoned off enough votes in some states (particularly New Hampshire and
Florida) to give George W. Bush a victory in those states, and finish with 271 electoral votes
(one more than needed to gain the presidency).
May 2, 2008
As those of us who eat food know, the price of groceries has skyrocketed in the past year. On
yesterday's "Imus in the Morning" show one of the guests was Jim Cramer, the host of "Mad
Money" on CNBC. According to Cramer, the skyrocketing food costs are a direct result of
30% of our current corn crop going towards the production of ethanol, and the price of food
commodities would drop by half if the government stopped offering subsidies to the farmers
who grow corn for ethanol production. This definitely falls into the category of unintended
consequences of an idea which on the surface sounded good.
This Sunday's "Meet the Press" will feature Barack Obama for the full hour. It should be quite
interesting as host Tim Russert is known for his tough questioning style. It is acknowledged by
most pundits that the November election will be between Obama and John McCain, although
Hillary Clinton continues to insist she has a chance at the Democratic nomination. Click for
article. I'm undecided at the moment between supporting Obama or McCain. On most issues I
tend to agree with McCain, with the exception of the issue of the Iraq War. If it were not for
this deal breaker, I would be very comfortable being a McCainiac.
April 28, 2008
Wild hogs are evidently taking over nearby Fort Parker State Park. According to the park
supervisor, the hogs have tilled up a large portion of the park. Click for article. In the late
70's, my brothers and I were in the hog business at Owl Roost Ranch. We would often use
the swine's enjoyment of rooting to our advantage in clearing roots and underbrush. This was
accomplished by tying three 16' steel hog panels into a triangular pen, putting a few of the
chosen porkers into it, placing it in an area that needed clearing, and letting them root to their
hearts delight. Normally the area would be cleared and tilled within a day's time, and to further
enhance the experience, the hogs would add natural fertilizer to the space. We would then
move the pen to the next needed spot and wait for a repeat of the results. Nature at its best,
and happy hogs to boot. Unfortunately for the hogs, they were destined to soon end up on a
plate, but what are you gonna do?
As I've mentioned numerous times, I have so many maladies that my doctor once told me I was
a walking time bomb. As a result I have to take more medicine than is normally found in your
average drug store. Being of feeble mind, on a weekly basis I re-stock my plastic Wal-Mart
medicine dispenser with the appropriate doses for the upcoming week. This past week I made
what turned out to be a grievous error and forgot to put the pill in that keeps my craziness at a
minimal level. Within a couple of days I began to think I had finally become eligible for the
funny farm. I could not think, remember, or function. It was awful. You see shows on
television about psychotics who must stay on their medication in order to function, and I can
now officially say I am among that group.
April 22, 2008
I was in the cafe last night enjoying a delicious ham and cheese on wheat sandwich when
Mary Lauderdale told us her prospective son-in-law Mike Wheal has moved to the United
States from England. I am anxious to meet Mike, as we have corresponded numerous times
by e-mail. Welcome to Texas!
I also visited with Mayor Daniell, who said he was the dunkee at this past weekend's Kosse
Spring Festival dunking booth. I'm not sure if this is included in his official duties as mayor,
but it does show he's not only a progressive voice for Kosse but also a good sport. Even
though we were raised on the Texas coast, I never was really into the water sports scene. For
some reason my ears always suffered for days if they filled with water. Now my greatest fear
of swimming in the Gulf of Mexico is that I may be mistakenly identified as Shamu by a
near-sighted sailor on a whaling vessel and end up being harpooned.
Mother's Day 2008 has arrived. This will be the first Mother's Day following my mother's
passing, but the thoughts of her will forever be remembered.
The April Texas State Comptroller's sales tax rebate checks have been disbursed, and the
Kosse business activity continues at a scorching pace. Quoting the Mexia Daily News, "The
City of Kosse April check totals $4,089.28, representing a whopping 96.86 percent increase
over the $2,077.15 check last April. Kosse almost doubled in an increase for year-to-date -
$18,177.82, compared with a year ago when the checks totaled $9,437.42." Click for article.
The Kosse/Bremond area's housing values are in total contrast to the deflating national
pricing trends. It is unbelievable to see small frame houses in Bremond being listed in the
$80,000 range that would have sold a couple of years ago for $35-40,000. While no one can
be faulted for trying to cash in while the gettings good, it is easily predictable we're in for a
bust cycle in three or four years once the power plant and coal mine are completed and the
temporary workers depart. Plan accordingly.
May 8, 2008
Even though most of my contact is with Kosse, we actually live in Bremond. With that said, a
tornado hit outside of Bremond last night at 8:01 p.m. Click for article. Fortunately our
neighborhood was not hit, as the tornado touched down a couple miles east on the road going
towards Franklin. We had about ten minutes notice and I will have to say it was a strange and
apprehensive feeling hearing the town's air sirens wailing and the newscasters saying to take
immediate cover from the deadly possibilities.
May 7, 2008
The Kosse Roping Grounds will be the site for another Ranch Rodeo on May 24 at 7:00 p.m..
These have proven to be exciting events which are well attended and offer great
entertainment. All are invited to enjoy some Kosse Cowboying. Contact Wes or Honey Suttle
for additional information.
On yesterday's Neil Cavuto show on Fox News, Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul
(who is still in the race despite John McCain now having more than enough delegates for the
nomination) said he would not be supporting McCain in the November election. Click for video.
While this may seem insignificant on the surface, if Congressman Paul can convince enough
of his very ardent supporters to vote for someone other than McCain, it could have a decisive
impact on a number of close states. Remember Ralph Nader's third party effect on the 2000
election? He siphoned off enough votes in some states (particularly New Hampshire and
Florida) to give George W. Bush a victory in those states, and finish with 271 electoral votes
(one more than needed to gain the presidency).
May 2, 2008
As those of us who eat food know, the price of groceries has skyrocketed in the past year. On
yesterday's "Imus in the Morning" show one of the guests was Jim Cramer, the host of "Mad
Money" on CNBC. According to Cramer, the skyrocketing food costs are a direct result of
30% of our current corn crop going towards the production of ethanol, and the price of food
commodities would drop by half if the government stopped offering subsidies to the farmers
who grow corn for ethanol production. This definitely falls into the category of unintended
consequences of an idea which on the surface sounded good.
This Sunday's "Meet the Press" will feature Barack Obama for the full hour. It should be quite
interesting as host Tim Russert is known for his tough questioning style. It is acknowledged by
most pundits that the November election will be between Obama and John McCain, although
Hillary Clinton continues to insist she has a chance at the Democratic nomination. Click for
article. I'm undecided at the moment between supporting Obama or McCain. On most issues I
tend to agree with McCain, with the exception of the issue of the Iraq War. If it were not for
this deal breaker, I would be very comfortable being a McCainiac.
April 28, 2008
Wild hogs are evidently taking over nearby Fort Parker State Park. According to the park
supervisor, the hogs have tilled up a large portion of the park. Click for article. In the late
70's, my brothers and I were in the hog business at Owl Roost Ranch. We would often use
the swine's enjoyment of rooting to our advantage in clearing roots and underbrush. This was
accomplished by tying three 16' steel hog panels into a triangular pen, putting a few of the
chosen porkers into it, placing it in an area that needed clearing, and letting them root to their
hearts delight. Normally the area would be cleared and tilled within a day's time, and to further
enhance the experience, the hogs would add natural fertilizer to the space. We would then
move the pen to the next needed spot and wait for a repeat of the results. Nature at its best,
and happy hogs to boot. Unfortunately for the hogs, they were destined to soon end up on a
plate, but what are you gonna do?
As I've mentioned numerous times, I have so many maladies that my doctor once told me I was
a walking time bomb. As a result I have to take more medicine than is normally found in your
average drug store. Being of feeble mind, on a weekly basis I re-stock my plastic Wal-Mart
medicine dispenser with the appropriate doses for the upcoming week. This past week I made
what turned out to be a grievous error and forgot to put the pill in that keeps my craziness at a
minimal level. Within a couple of days I began to think I had finally become eligible for the
funny farm. I could not think, remember, or function. It was awful. You see shows on
television about psychotics who must stay on their medication in order to function, and I can
now officially say I am among that group.
April 22, 2008
I was in the cafe last night enjoying a delicious ham and cheese on wheat sandwich when
Mary Lauderdale told us her prospective son-in-law Mike Wheal has moved to the United
States from England. I am anxious to meet Mike, as we have corresponded numerous times
by e-mail. Welcome to Texas!
I also visited with Mayor Daniell, who said he was the dunkee at this past weekend's Kosse
Spring Festival dunking booth. I'm not sure if this is included in his official duties as mayor,
but it does show he's not only a progressive voice for Kosse but also a good sport. Even
though we were raised on the Texas coast, I never was really into the water sports scene. For
some reason my ears always suffered for days if they filled with water. Now my greatest fear
of swimming in the Gulf of Mexico is that I may be mistakenly identified as Shamu by a
near-sighted sailor on a whaling vessel and end up being harpooned.
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